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SOTD Easter Sunday 04/12/2020
Happy Easter to all! Although I wasn't planning this shave today, I'm participating in a razor pass around featuring two adjustable razors designed and built by one of the members (
@twhite) at The Shave Den, my regular wet shaving hangout. The TAR (Tom's Adjustable Razor) package consists of two razors, a hefty brass razor and a black aluminum one with a black guncote finish. The brass razor weighs 5.5 oz or 155.9 grams. It's not a lightweight. The aluminum version weighs in at 55 grams. The OC razor head design reminds me of French Cage Head razors while the overall design is similar to the Gibbs adjustable complete with the 6 point adjustment scale, although the handle is thicker in proportion to the head. Unlike the Gibbs the TAR accommodates modern SS blades that require no modification. I'll be shaving with the brass razor for the next 4 or 5 days and then will switch to the aluminum for approximately the same number of days. All of my shaves will consist of both head and face shaves, and will use a Suneko DE blade.
For this first shave, I used Lucky Tiger Cream Soap salted with 6 drops of M-Bomb and my Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute brush with a 24mm Badger/Boar hybrid knot. Before lathering up for the first pass, I prepared for the shave with my usual cold water rinse. Prior reviewers commented on the weight of the brass razor, but it seemed to work quite well for shaky old me. In fact, the weight counterbalanced my tremors and allowed me to focus on shave technique. In hand the razor reminds me of my Famex and Le Coq Cage head razors. I took my time with the first WTG pass using short careful strokes with razor set on 4. That initially felt a bit much in the first few strokes, so I dialed it down to 3 which felt right to me. Although the handle felt a bit thicker than I was used to, I quickly grew used to it. Finally, the overall feel of the razor was well-balanced in hand, allowing for the easy provision of ‘negative pressure'.
After lathering up for my second XTG pass, I adjusted the razor down a full step initially to 2, and then back to 2.5 for the second face pass due to a perceived loss of efficiency. When I do a three pass shave, I only do the face on the second pass, restricting the dome shaves to the first and third passes. The razor's weight, coupled with my new ability to focus only on shave technique, and not tremors, thanks to said weight, left me with only some selective buffing on both face and dome for the third ATG pass. Tom, you may not realize it, but you've designed the ideal razor for shaky oldsters. This was a great introductory shave. I never expected to achieve a face and head BBS with this first shave, but that's what happened. I feel clean, smooth, cool, refreshed, and ready for Easter dinner, albeit virtually with my family. Happy Easter to all of you sheltering in place! May God bless you all with safety and health!
RAZOR: TAR (Tom's Adjustable Razor) in Brass
BLADE: Suneko DE (1)
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute w/ 24mm Hybrid Badger/Boar Knot
SOAP: Lucky Tiger Cream Shave w/ 6 Drops M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum
